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25 Things You Didn’t Know About Paul Adelstein

25 Things You Didn’t Know About Paul Adelstein

Watching “Personal Practice,” you’ve probably gotten hooked on the character Dr. Cooper Friedman, played by veteran actor Paul Adelstein. The multi-talented gentleman works on the production side and the talent side of television and film plus he writes and performs music. Originally from the Midwest, this American actor has worked in theater, too. Read on to learn 25 fascinating facts about this talented fellow.

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1. Paul Adelstein worked with John Cusack at the film actor’s production company, New Crime Productions.

The two worked together developing film projects. Cusack had Adelstein create original music for various productions, so you can hear his music on multiple soundtracks, such as the HBO short film Mullitt.

2. He most frequently works as an actor.

Adelstein frequently guest stars or stars on various TV shows including playing Special Agent Kellerman on “Jail Break” with Wentworth Miller and guest starring on “Law & Order: SVU.”

3. Adelstein previously appeared on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

So his role on “Personal Practice” isn’t his first on a medical drama.

4. He and actress Liza Weil married in 2006, then divorced in 2016.

Liza Weil was at the Paley Center on November 19, 2019 in Beverly Hills.

You probably remember her as Paris Geller on the TV series “Gilmore Ladies.”

5. The actor has a daughter, Josephine Elizabeth Weil-Adelstein, with his ex-wife.

Born on April 20, 2010, she was six years old when her parents divorced.

6. Adelstein came into this world on April 29, 1969 in The Windy City, Chicago, IL. That makes him a Taurus.

His parents are Harvey and Doris Adelstein.

7. Rather than attend an in-state college, Adelstein explored the East Coast, graduating from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1991.

His university features him on its notable alumni website alongside other noted alums former US President Franklin Pierce, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, US Senator George J. Mitchell, and Medal of Honor recipient Everett P. Pope. He pledged to the fraternity Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude with a degree in English.

8. Although he’s better known now for TV roles.

Paul Adelstein attended the 2018 PaleyFest Fall TV Previews in Beverly Hills.

He has appeared in numerous movies, including “Be Cool,” “Bedazzled,” “Collateral,” “Happy Sushi,” “Intolerable Cruelty,” “Land of the Lost,” “Little Fish,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Mothers and Daughters,” “Nobody’s Watching,” “Peoria Babylon,” “Return To Zero,” “Strange Pond,” “The Grifters,” “The Missing Person,” and “The Phenom.” Whew! So, if you ever sat down to watch a film and thought, “Oh my God, that guy is in everything.” Yes, he kind of has been in just about everything.

9. You can find some pretty random webpages devoted to his acting roles online.

His guest starring role on “Law & Order: SVU” has its own page in the wiki devoted to the show. His devoted fans want to know every little detail about his career. (Hey, that’s why you are reading this.)

10. About that show “Law & Order: SVU” – his ex-wife guest starred on it, too.

Weil and he did not appear in the same episode though. In fact, they haven’t had an on-screen appearance together.

11. Adelstein also works as a musician.

He named his band after his mom, so you can say you listen to Doris. That’s his mom’s first name and the name of his quartet. He serves as lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Paul also plays piano.

12. Since he now appears more often on TV, let’s just review his major role shows.

Paul Adelstein attended the "Prison Break" PaleyLive LA Spring Season in Beverly Hills.

He’s appeared on the shows “Breaking News,” “Chance,” “Cupid,” “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” “Prison Break,” “Private Practice,” “Scandal,” and “Turks.”

13. Catch him online on Twitter.

He’s not much for social media, but you can read his opinions and thoughts by visiting his Twitter account – http://www.twitter.com/adelsteinpaul – which provides the latest information on his career and personal life.

14. Adelstein had previously worked with Kate Walsh before casting placed them opposite each other on “Private Practice.”

They used to both wait tables at the Bucktown’s Café du Midi in Chicago.

15. Was originally asked to be a guest star on the pilot of Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce.

But after signing on he was made a cast member and asked to join the series as a writer and creative consultant.

16. When he lived in Chicago, IL, he and friend Nick Offerman were in a motorcycle accident.

Nick Offerman attended a Hulu event in Hollywood.

At the time the two actors appeared together in the play “A Clockwork Orange” at the Steppenwolf Theater.

17. He’s the kind of actor that inspires writers.

In fact, the role of Leo on “Scandal” was created specifically for him.

18. Both he and his ex-wife Liza Weil appear as regulars in the Shonda Rhimes series.

They never appeared on screen together though.

19. His role in “Be Cool” stopped him from accepting the role of Burke on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Filming ran late on “Be Cool,” the Grey’s role went to Isaiah Washington.

20. You always worry that when you move to a new city it will be tough to find a job, but not for this actor.

Paul Adelstein attended the season end party for Prison Break.

When he moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, he landed a role in “Prison Break.” The show filmed in Chicago. Oh, the irony.

21. Adelstein played two different characters named “Kellerman” on television.

First, he played Steven Kellerman on “Law & Order: SVU” in Season 4, Episode 14, then he played Paul Kellerman on “Prison Break.”

22. When people first hear his band, Doris, they sometimes mistake its songs for Randy Newman.

Other times, people think it is Elvis Costello.

23. He started out in theater in Chicago, IL.

He’s traveled the US appearing with various companies, most notably the Defiant Theatre, Live Bait Theatre, and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

24. He uses the two careers – acting and music – to escape one from the other.

Paul Adelstein attended the premier of his movie Intolerable Cruelty.

When he needs to forget about his acting role, he turns to his guitar. Likewise, when he gets stuck songwriting, he turns to acting. He said in an interview with Smashing Interviews, “I like being able to switch gears and totally forget about acting and come home to play my guitar. When I’m locked up on a song or just annoyed with myself and my playing, I love to be able to go and act. It’s a real blessing to be able to clear your head that way. Yes, the days are full, but in the best way. I can’t imagine two other things I’d rather be doing.”

25.  His band, Doris, has been together in some form since he was 20 years old.

He formed it with some of his high school friends. They regularly record and perform live after more than 30 years as a musical group. And yes, they are all still good friends.

Los Angeles band Doris will release their new full-length album titled All the Details on February 21, 2012. Doris is the musical outlet of singer, songwriter and actor Paul Adelstein (vocals and piano). All the Details crosses musical boundaries from a Wurlitzer-infused pop jingle to acoustic guitar-laced rock passages with sweeping vocal harmonies. The piano-driven album features ten tracks of anthemic Randy Newman-esque and Harry Nilsson-styled compositions.

References:

IMDB: Paul Adelstein

Person Bio: Paul Adelstein

Celeb Sages: Paul Adelstein

Twitter: Paul Adelstein

Celebrity Networths: Paul Adelstein Networth

Bowdoin College: Notable Alumni